Amos's Oracles Against the NationsIn the first two chapters of the book of Amos, the prophet denounces a number of neighbouring nations for committing atrocities in war and then declares Israel to be equally blameworthy in view of the social injustices prevailing in his time (the eighth century BC). Amos is widely held to be ahead of his age, not only in recognising the idea of 'war crimes' but also in attributing to the God if Israel any concern with or power over other nations. In this detailed study of Amos 1 and 2, Dr Barton shows that the book in fact presupposes both these notions; there were already accepted conventions of warfare in the ancient Near Eastern cultures and there was already recognition in Israel of the universality of God's power. The essential contribution of Amos to Old Testament theology is to be found in his radical criticism of Israel and in his prediction that it is about to be destroyed by its own God. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
accepted according actual already Amos Amos's ancient Near East appealing Aram Aramaean argues argument Assyrian atrocities attack attempt Background battle believed century chapters Clements commentators common concerned condemned conduct conventions course covenant crime discussed divine Edom Egyptian Elisha enemies ethical evidence example expect fact follow foreign nations further Gilead Gottwald grounds hand held History Hittites hold idea II Kings international law interpretation Isaiah Israel Israelite Jehoahaz Joel and Amos Judah kind Kings later least Leipzig literary London Mari means Moab Moabite moral norms obligations Old Testament oracles original Oxford period possible present probably Prophecy prophet Propheten punishment question reason recent reference regarded reign relations rules says seems seen sense simply suggests supposed surprise taken texts theory thought tion tradition treaty Tyre universal Weiser whole Wolff Yahweh